#2PencilChat Archive
The #2PencilChat is a weekly conversation about educational technology. As we enter a more student-centered age, let's talk about using all the tools in our toolboxes to be innovative and dynamic teachers.
Tuesday January 26, 2016
Hey everyone, I'm kinda here tonight. I'll have Q's and A's but I'll be popping in and out, I'm at TOY Banquet for a friend.
Thanks moving over to for more learning
Are you being honored? Congrats!
Hi Everyone! Kathy from CT grade 3
Hey ! Stacey from NJ. Ready to play.
I haven't signed up yet for play day, have you all?
Hey seems my morning is all about chats Jo from Melb Australia joining again
Anyone on the North East play in the snow this weekend?
No, but I have to hand over my crown to a pal from my school. Thanks, though!
I'm Sean, 3rd grade, St. Augustine, FL, and I'm signed up for Global School Play Day, are YOU?
What on earth is a Toy Banquet? Sounds like a childhood tea party with stuffed toys, but a grown up version!
Hey there, ! Kimberly, Media Specialist from Daytona Beach here!
I have not. I don't have a class, but I will spread the word to my fellow and Ts
Get it, Kathy! More than 100,00 kids signed up so far, let's crack one fiddy!
Ah the peer pressure! lol
Hi, ! I'm Shauna, sick in Toronto. I can't believe how long this bug I got in Florida has hung out with me.
I think what I was picturing was even more fun!
Hey Carl from Emerald, Australia
Sneaking in during some free time on my first day back from the holidays
A1: Show your Ss - of any age - that you like to have fun and play with your learning so they feel safe to do the same.
nah, Teacher of the Year, honoring our awesome art teacher, !
are their any toy dogs or cats there?
A1 all Ss love play no matter how old - sometimes hook them in by saying we are going to play a game -always learning
First & I'm pumped! Teaching barre class at 7:45 but totally want to answer Qs about play & dance time in the class!
A1: Use goofy voices, characters, stories to enhance learning. Be spontaneous. Give yourself& Ss the space and time to be silly
Lisa from central Florida. I'll be in and out tonight.
A1 our class is completely project-based and students make it up as the go along
I feel like we play first; play with math manipulative, play with writing etc.
anyone else having problems with reply button -mine not working today??
A1: i like the idea of scheduling play time every week-put out manipulatives, tools, games, etc and everyone stops and plays
I hit the Quan an hour & 15 mins ago
Ss love when I play along
Always time for some 'sillyness' https://t.co/HOzowidob9
A1: Use goofy voices, characters, stories to enhance learning. Be spontaneous. Give yourself& Ss the space and time to be silly
A1 My Ss have 10-15 min of unstructured play time every morning, in addition to a 30 min recess after lunch.
A1: using GoNoodle is a fun way to make play time active!
We have 2 recesses a day. One 15; one 20
Hey , it's Leslie in Mty, MX feeling "all played out" with a head cold. I am lurking around, but not in a creepy way! hehe
Isn't 'play' a natural part of everyone's day? 😃 No 'play', no fun...less engagement...less learning! 😊😊😊
A1: Chapter 19 in my book is all about this! "Spoonful of Sugar" has a section called "Play With Them"
I am just plain out unstructured
Hi - Marifran, hs librarian, popping in & out tonite as I try to get homework done! Using to follow the action
For me it was a non-event
As it fell on last day of holidays meant just flowed into getting ready for new school year
I hear you, Leslie! The bug I have keeps morphing and is exhausting. Not much fun.
I see my groups for about 30 mins at a time. S earn during group, get to create something at end of group.
And we if we have over a 2 hour time block together, I do and mindfulness
Is that specific to your class or is it school-wide?
A1 In middle school we love fun or games
I think is having way too much fun tonight! 😊
I think is having way too much fun tonight! 😊
Trying that too, Marifran, but can't get responses to work so I am back to
haha! I think some of us "see" way to much of each other! lol
Year 9 program I worked on did 30 mins of play first things every morn followed by either maths or english. Brains boosted
What do you do for mindfulness-what grade?
A1: has great videos that I call "brain breaks" for students who are antsy to dance out/stretch/exercise.
Part of the reason my days are so enjoyable! 😊
A1: Game of the week, especially leading up to mid-terms - introduce a new card or board game and get Ss relaxing, chatting
Hmmm that's interesting - tell me more https://t.co/idahwkkboT
Year 9 program I worked on did 30 mins of play first things every morn followed by either maths or english. Brains boosted
3rd and a variety. Today we listened to yoga music, closed our eyes and breathed for 2 minutes
My pal does something like it, do, with creation time each day.
A1: , , Access Period "white space." We could do more, to be sure. Senior Ss can be reluctant.
A1) Esp on long sessions, (eg: I have some 80 min blocks) I stop and have a small game at about half way.
Disney producer Don Hahn said, “Play is the welcome cousin of creativity.”
state, district, powers that B tell what 2 teach. Delivery is up to me. We march and chant, sing and dance. Whatever works!
it's my first time, trying something different (but I see what you mean)
it's my first time, trying something different (but I see what you mean)
I wanna be in your class...that would be a HUGE motivator for me! You ROCK! 😊
Have you used the Insight timer or calm apps?
Rotated: walking, cycling, soccer, yoga, whatever a teacher could offer. Ss very calm after but work quality high
Don't know insight timer? app? Do use calm and a couple others. Ss said they loved the music today.
A3 yes 100,000% of the time
Love that approach! What a motivator!
A2 There is no free for alls in middle school. But we definitely have starter activities & just let students "go"
Hey Alex teaching tech in LA late as usual. What's going on
and I'm getting double tweets
Would count as unstructured play?
A2) Unstructured allows Ss to do what they need to boost their brains
A2: Often, we'll discuss a problem or objective and students go play and solve it in their own way.
More for the benefit of the T? 😉
A2 Again, each day, after math, my kids get to play. Sometimes with devices, sometimes "device free".
A2: We have board game mornings and app-ropriate chrome book free time! Tag or Mayer Says happens.
My son and I love insight timer. A few Ts use it at school to for weekly meditation.
Create a learning space where u play together w your Ss - increases emotional/social well being & creative thought
Will need to check it out! Thanks so much!
Boo! Love the way it looks, want it to work a little better.
Q2 that's a little more difficult for me. I'm usually in another Ts class or in a small pod. But see the benefits!
At least student-structured, right?
A2: Do you think Genius Hour 'fits the bill'? I'm curious.
I use the app, have to try the site.
I hope it does or else there is barely play at all. G12 Ss do Calculus if I give them play time
A2:Yes! I dont control schedule so I've been coming to open lab early to play
Have you tried before? I hear that brain boosts before heavy thinking subjects can be v beneficial.
It's important that we let them see they don't have to use a device for fun. My Ss often choose no device.
My neighbor at school starts get kids with it everyday!
I loved participating in recess with them...swings, kickball, tag, etc.
Depends on how you define "play." I would say.
A2: Think most classrooms, beyond early primary, are 'set up' for unstructured play? What might be needed?
A -little-, we dance between class meeting and math.
Create environment for experimentation: opportunities to play, activate imaginations, solve problems, create solutions
Sounds like the right way to start the day.
I took a career break from full time teaching and have been developing play based learning activities for around 7 months now
A2: students will wake up and then, be able to pay attention better.
Play Cards, great way to have fun and just relax
Playing w your Ss creates an environment for experimentation w/o judgement or inhibition.
A3 I work with several grades at elem. what amazes me is how different it looks from K to 5th. Sometimes we just need to let go
Like that! I learn a lot with you! 😊
A3 you know I'm not sure there is too much difference play+FUN=learning
Right back at you! and everyone else here!
A3: Sometimes, when working with older Ss, we use imaginary play and pretend to be little kids, let go of inhibitions.
How do you 'define' play?
A3 we should have the opportunity to play like this. Even as adults! FB_IMG_1453762360863.jpg
true for all ages, great way to get to know Ss
A2 We hope to open our new
STEAM room in Feb.I cant wait
A3: Play w older Ss by creatively delivering content like a game show or talk show host. Adapt what you see on TV for the clsrm
A3 MSchoolers: boys want Chomebook/personal device time (games & sports). Maybe legos. Girls wanna talk & text.
A3 Running, yelling, throwing, gaming, crafting, drawing, puppeteering, making, laughing!
Wait, like generically, or for me, personally? My kids work hard during so I don't see that as play.
A3 Play is fun! We have Recess 2Xs each day for 15mins & they also get time for play after lunch. Kickball, football, soccer.
Don't forget that content can be delivered, practiced & evaluated through play and games (for learners of any age)
High school students need time to "play", too! Field based learning provides awesome opportunities https://t.co/dw1t9DnF7D
A3: It's indicated by smiles.
Just start by adding an element of fun in ordinary routines. Put on music, use funny voices
Hey, have you been in my classes? This is how I run many of my classes - great response from Ss https://t.co/VRmgMFYdY2
Don't forget that content can be delivered, practiced & evaluated through play and games (for learners of any age)
I'm Derek from by the way. 5th grade teacher recently returned from & !
It's a much better than I would have created tonight!
"In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun" https://t.co/GwqsgIP7pC "find the fun, and snap-the job's a game"
that's our boy!! Tweet away!!
DYK you can divide the class up into teams and have them drill study questions and GoNoodle at the same time?
Awesome! What kinds of games do you use? Have your Ss started developing their own?
I had the pleasure of seeing speak at His whole book/talk was about the importance of play! Not just kids!
I love that you're answering via drawings & paper/pen! I really need to plan ahead to do the same.
A3: They were having fun, but I don't know if it is play? Cellular Resp. Script writing and acting. https://t.co/NFgGdE3bve
A2.We are too dependent on useless text and wkbooks that destroy creative thinking.Lets teach from the heart .Quality teaching
Awesome! What project(s) are you currently working on?
For Ss...is play not an opportunity for 'hard work' and, potentially, deep learning? What happens in K classrooms?
It's only possible bc gives us the Qs early! I did these while the boys were doing HW.
And Teachers need time to play as well. That's why I LOVE going to conferences & connecting w/ my . So fun!
Play isn't just an extra. It is the core mechanism for learning and gaining new skills
Jay, Gimli, MB... bombing in late for .
developing a game for Lang dev as part of an MSc. Also started my own company with play as the focus for learning
Brainercise with Mr. Cat Man can mix up your play time. Hand eye coordination and brain teasers, great for any grade!
And b/c you're in the EST. I just got out of school not too long ago.
A4: Whiteboard tablets & markers, molecule kits, a few games/toys like Fiddlestix and UNO, a pet mouse, a pill bug terrarium.
A4: Pretty much just art supplies... a couple board games... sense of adventure? .
anything that works, mind games, visual games, competitive games depends on class s/t Ss run them https://t.co/ePn6sDTTmd
Awesome! What kinds of games do you use? Have your Ss started developing their own?
That's sort of what I meant with my first response. In MY classroom, play looks very different from work.
A4. legos, scissors, paper, pattern blocks, tangrams, games, markers etc.
A3: Video gaming in the library... Can lead to coding and !
i mainly use Lego, K'nect, makey makey, iPads and little bits :) and I love to mix them all up
A4 You've all seen pics of my you collections, right? I have action figures & stuff all over! Plus lots of games.
They cam out yesterday (I think).
I don't know..I think we are on question 4
I can have fun at work but weekends are when I play. VERY different. Both pleasant. Learning doesn't stop.
Stony in Hot Springs, Arkansas- High School library media specialist. Hello, friends!
A4 are a must! And cards for tricks and games. Play dough, markers (I'm a fanatic!)
At HS, play looks different. If we take the time to stop, and not work, I count that...sort of... .
Want to do more free-seating like does & think that would add to the "play" feel in the room. Make it feel more run.
Love the Lego head! And the throwback to cardboard!
A4 like swords and battle axes? A mace or dagger?
I love CatMan more than he could PAWSibly know.
A4 anything S can use to build, create, or imagine and wonder with.
Though I'm planning on making sure this is in place before my exam next week! . https://t.co/EzxGk0TjKj
Just set up shared coloring books for each class. They can borrow, color and sign a page, and then return anytime they need a mental break.
Then I better be more prepared & have paper/pen answers next time!
A4: Lego, Sphero, Plasticine, Play-Doh, cardboard, board games, costumes, Muppets...
A4: does awesome stuff with Lego. I need to find a way to do that too! .
A4: a ball. There is a lot of class games and play that can occur with a ball
I am reading aloud Origami Yoda and I had a S create me in a finger puppet. ahahaha Loved it!
A3: Instead of practicing vocab & spelling through rote memorization & repetitive testing, we created the Vocabulary Olympics.
I had the same thing happen when I taught 3rd grade! It was awesome!
a4 Dice and cards. The casino in CT will give them to Ts for free
Our students have either ipads or macbooks. V important to distinguish these as not for play
Muppets?? Does the Henson family know about this?
A4 Always have board games that involve math concepts for pair battles.
So funny! I hung it by my computer so I can see it whenever i am in a bad mood!
I actually have stuffed animals (a new via & ) that I use for games.
A4: Kid hand me scrap of notebook paper today. Told me if I collected enough, I could see her for prize. Everything's magical.
Right?! Just fabulous! Right when you think you have seen it all! BAM! Your a finger puppet!
A4: Video games, board games, spheros, 3D printer, Legos, and old computers/ tech to deconstruct!
Totally authorized at the former at !
This is so awesome! I would LOVE that! https://t.co/10BSPxPit7
I am reading aloud Origami Yoda and I had a S create me in a finger puppet. ahahaha Loved it!
A4: For Ss/Ts I support...SMART tech, tablets with variety of apps, manipulatives of all shapes & sizes, paper, markers, glue.
Excited to help you make this a reality! Welcome back to the states! https://t.co/j0l9zciGxR
Want to do more free-seating like does & think that would add to the "play" feel in the room. Make it feel more run.
You can do so much with dice & cards in class. Just be careful, some parents freak having the in class w/ kids.
A5: I would have liked a lot of things, but my role will be changing to CI in August, and so now I am not sure what to say.
A5: Minifigs.. to help us represent our reading in Lego
.
Really? Never had that happen before. Been using them for a long time. What was the beef?
A5: Parents and administrators! I want them to come and play with us!
A1 we take moments to laugh together, play lots of games that are also learning activities team build in morning mtng
How could I forget, we LOVE to do for class play as well! The kids eat it up!
A5: Makey makeys, rasberry pi, robotic kits, maybe amateur radio one day...
We had to start calling dice "number cubes" to take away any possible association to gambling!
A5: I'm gonna make some whiteboard blocks for responses & 3x3s .
A5 same answer as 4. maces and battle axes. Swords and daggers
Our HS classroom has oodles of art supplies--my favorite = crayons-- plus 2 very popular yoga balls https://t.co/vX1IQ4liCz
A5 More time. If we didn't have the pressure of standardized tests & evaluations tied to those & SGOs. Pay could happen more
Silliness and laughter are the only ways to survive!
Really?! Oh boy! Shaking my head. Ugh!
A5 I'd love to have more time for stuff. Just letting the kids make would be awesome!
A4: The best "implement for play"? Little kids - bring kinders into your older grade classes - fun is contagious!
I thought this said lounger! Want that too! .
This is awesome! You know they will come rock some Pac-Man and Super Mario! https://t.co/rjG9apEB2E
A5: Parents and administrators! I want them to come and play with us!
I think time is on most Ts' wish lists!
So think K Ss with me...Are they 'having fun at work'? Is that 'play'? I 'get' the adult piece.
Cannot make this sh*t up! lol ugh!
A5 More board & card games, a box full of random maker supplies, Mister McGroovy's box rivets, lotsa cardboard, MOOOORE Lego!
I have a great bag of board game stuff left over from making board games years ago... need to make games again! .
There is NEVER enough legos!
Do you ask Ps to donate these items?
A5 More time. If we didn't have the pressure of standardized tests & evaluations tied to those & SGOs. Play could happen more
For those who love Sphero, we may have a ISTE suprise for you all
This sounds great! https://t.co/y2cqp7xbUf
A4: The best "implement for play"? Little kids - bring kinders into your older grade classes - fun is contagious!
Do your class games come with helmets? 😄😄😄. Or did you mean outdoor games with a ball?
A5: My Grade 11s and I created a poetry card game that only exists in digital docs. Need to make it physical for my 10s to use.
I am sad that we are asking 5 year olds to work. I think they should only play (and secretly work).
A2 I wish i could do more of this in my space. I try to allow & have room for choice, but in addition to recess not really
WHAT?!!! Oh the things people complain about! UGH! SMH!
But no casino field trips, right? 😉
A5: I NEED MORE ROOM IN MY ROOM. kthanx.
you had me at hello! bound
I've thought about trying to find a way to implement li'l kid style recess at our high school... .
Sometimes I share my Amazon wishlist with parents.
Are these phone or android apps? I'd be intersted in trying these out.
let me bring my JCB loader down there and I can make some more room for you
Wish list items include play doh that doesn't dry out or cost =$Arm + ...
I have apple devices. But youtube has the music
I'm not running a Vegas Casino here peeps, or am i?
I encourages Ts to not say 'work' but to say let's do 'learning' so then... secretly play+FUN=learning https://t.co/g4DeTqup4W
I am sad that we are asking 5 year olds to work. I think they should only play (and secretly work).
I totally did NOT have to look up a JCB Loader on the Google.
I used to make a "Giving Tree" at the start of yr for BTSN & conferences. Sometimes included board games, etc.
I have a bunch of air dry clay that I'm itching to find a way to use. .
Dice AND dancing? I think you ARE, young lady! :)
is trending on Twitter in
I always thought that wall was giving me the walleye... good riddance.
A5 need to let go of content driven classes for a start
A1 we play all sorts of music... Annie, Hawaiian, Brazilian, Fantasia, lots of Putamayo
A6 I love what Finland does
A6 Just do it. Seriously. Let kids be kids.
Yeah! What the heck is going on in your classroom! lol
is now trending in USA, ranking 48
A6: Make learning so fun and engaging that Ss can't wait to come to school, or ask to stay in for recess!
A6: Play is part of learning. I tweeted about my kid's painting the other day. Jr. K. and she's explaining an abstract piece
A3 in 4th grade today at recess, some students taught others how to do "the worm." The teacher tried very unsuccessfully!
Akkk, my cover is blown! Bring out the Elvis impersonators & I also do weddings.
I don't think free play has to have an agenda. For me, inquiry is open but usually centered in a theme/content
A6: con't telling me what colours represent. Essentially, a lesson I recently did with my 12s.
You can tell when is trending spam starts taking up space in feed grrrrr
A3 occasionally at recess I will play soccer with them or teach them games like 4-square
A6 Be Nike? Just do it. Makes sense. Work, then play, it's a repeatable block of focus. That's how I get thru chores at home.
Just going by our curriculum here...calls for more than just play...although an important part of each day.
A6: Is there a Reggio high school?
A6: I want to try Genius Hour-let Ss dream and build it/ make it. What if we let Ss dream up ways of playing to learn content?
I do differentiate my Casino Royal lesson plans & have rubrics & I can statements.
Pomodoro was a lifesaver for me in finishing the last quarter of my book! Great technique!
Free play should never have an agenda, in my humble opinion.
I need to go over my notes/hit you up for more insight. Thinking about doing this with my 9s.
I think we all do it, adults just self regulate. Go look at people in cubicles. It's why Candy Crush exists.
A3 PLay is mostly an attitude in my classroom, we have some games for indoor recess like Mancala and Tenzi.
Crud, zip line is down, were learning conga line dancing for our gambling cruise instead
That would be a contradiction!
Well, if it does, it's just work you like ;)
A5: More TIME for play...'implements' are the easier part. 😊
A6: What if we connected with schools in other states and countries via to play games?
I love this term: "activity enhancers"
. We must be starting to trend...
I like your optimistic outlook and attitude! 😊
Motivated by to use fancy words for toys.
And you're the Canadian hahaha *acrosstheborderhugs
So intriguing! Love this shot!
Thanks for stretching my thinking tonight! 👍😊
Thanks for that. I will now dream of scary Canadian gangs, handing out cookies and riding moose and whatnot
This was a fabulous evening! I will never look at dice the same way! Thanks everyone!
were any cats injured in the making of this meme
I did that with and we did like a human Battleship type game!
how have I not done this?
A5 Wish List: More Legos, Maker materials, blocks, art and drawing supplies, card games
At least you didn't mention polar bears and igloos! 😊
ooh I have to find the dice tweet
Too sick to do much more than Candy Crush and Twitter chats - but this was a fun way to play tonight! Thanks
I never heard of before but I will tune in again! Thx!
I don't believe so, just made into a vine star.
Imagine staff meetings in a ball pit?
Thanks for a great chat ! Storify coming up.
I'm too southern to think about those things existing in real life.
